BELLY - Homelessness

There is much suffering in the world - physical, material, mental. The suffering of some can be blamed on the greed of others. The material and physical suffering is suffering from hunger, from homelessness, from all kinds of diseases. But the greatest suffering is being lonely feeling unloved, having no one. I have come more and more to realise that being unwanted, that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience. - Mother Teresa. Here in the beautiful bubble of the Byron Shire it may or may not surprise you to know we have the second largest cohort of people sleeping rough in regional NSW, second only to the city of Sydney – according to the NSW Government Street Count 2025. A little hive of love and support, The Fletcher Street Cottage is a haven for crisis located in the heart of Byron Bay - 18 Fletcher Street. It’s a welcoming, safe and respectful place for people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and mental health challenges. The Byron Community Centre operates this unique community services hub, providing wraparound services for locals in need to get practical relief, find connections and access broader support. It offers assistance with housing, mental health, financial aid, legal advice, medical care, emergency relief and counselling, as well as meeting basic needs by providing a safe place to enjoy a meal, have a shower and even do some washing. With the Byron Shire having the second largest number of rough sleepers in NSW, a place like Fletcher Street Cottage is a vital one-stop-shop for Byron's most vulnerable residents. My guests in the studio this morning, are part of the Fletcher Street Cottage, and amongst all their hard work they’ve managed to find some time to come share some very recent and very good news with us that will help to shape a more secure residency for the cottage. Council have just granted the cottage a 15-year extension on the lease. We’ll hear more about what this news means for the cottage, its people, and how we as a community can continue to support the lifechanging services it provides to those most in need when I'm joined by my guests today Damian Farrel (Fletcher St Cottage Manager) and Bec Robinson (Relationships Manager). Would you like to donate, lend a hand or keep updated? Find out how to get involved at www.fletcherstreetcottage.com.au. or contact: [email protected] Tune into BELLY live each week - Tuesdays 9-11am - www.bayfm.org